When This World Was New

By D.H. Figueredo

Book Overview

An uplifting story about a young boy overcoming his fears and embracing his new home in America.

It was Danilito's first day in America. He and his parents have just made a long, exhausting move from the Caribbean to New York City. The ocean and the palm trees he is familiar with are now replaced by tall buildings and crowded streets.

Danilito is scared. He has heard that some Americans are not friendly to foreigners. In addition, he does not speak any English. His parents have worries, too. They will have to find new jobs, a new home, and adjust to the new surroundings. This was going to be their first cold winter.

Danilito's worries disappear the next morning when he wakes up and Papa leads him on a magical trip of discovery. D.H. Figueredo, in his picture book debut, brings us a gentle and uplifting story of coming to America, and Enrique O. Sanchez captures the loving images of a boy embracing his new home and finding a special bond with his family.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1584301732
• ISBN13: 9781584301738
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.0" x 9.9"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

This book brought back memories of my own past

I recently got this book for my daughter as an educational tool. The book touched closely my own experiences when I arrived to this country many years ago at the age of 14. I too came from a warm climate and found myself in the northeast of the US, where the weather, language and customs were much different than my own. Mr. Figueredo was able to accurately describe the many fears and insecurities that an impressionable child goes through when leaving the familiar for the unknown. I recommend this book as a teaching tool for tolerance and acceptance of those who are different than us. I was very fortunate that I found many new friends in this country who also came from different backgrounds and embraced me as their own. Books like this one go a long way in creating understanding among people.

I'd be scared too

This book was great. My mom asked me to read it because she was giving it to my little cousins and I really liked it. It told about a boy who was feeling both scared and excited - they are feelings I have too. I'd be scared if I had to leave my country forever and not even know what the people were saying when I got to the new place. It would be scarey to have a Mom who is sick and a Dad who has to get a new job. It would also be frightening to think about a new school where you wouldn't know anybody AND you wouldn't even know what they were saying to you or about you. I remember when a boy named Sasha came to our class and he was from Russia and did not know any English. I had heard there were other languages but I didn't know what that could do to a person until I saw what Sasha went through. I think a new adventure is only exciting when you don't have to worry, but Danilito and Shasha had to worry. In the book Danilito was lucky though because he had his mom and dad and his uncle to help him. I think Danilito and Shasha are a lot alike. Danilito may be scared today but just like Sasha, once he learns the new language he will become very happy and his scared feelings will become feelings about excitement about his new adventures in a new home. After all, he already had a happy experience that he didn't need a language for - the snow! It made things new seem good and exciting. I think this author must like little kids because he knew how they feel inside.Michael Corso III